Marion Community Schools is a Summer Food Service Program participant. Free breakfast and lunch is available to the public (to anyone 18 or younger) as follows this summer:

Meals will be available Monday through Thursday, June 4 through June 28 at Frances Slocum Elementary School, Justice Intermediate School, and McCulloch Junior High School; meals will be available Monday through Thursday June 4 through June 21 at Marion High School.

Breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

Lunch will be served from 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Giant Summer Academy and MHS summer session students will also be provided free breakfast and lunch.

The Summer Food Service Program for Children was created to serve nutritious meals to children when the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program meals are not available. Under this program, free meals are provided to all eligible children ages 1 to 18 as well as people with disabilities, regardless of age, who participate in a special education program.

Acceptance and participation requirements for the program are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

On May 18, the sixth annual Marion Community Schools Kindness Rally will celebrate the power that kindness has to change our schools, our community, and the world! This event is open to the entire community, and we hope YOU will join us!

Highlights will include the Chain Reaction Ceremony; the annual Student Kindness Awards and Staff Kindness Awards; the Kindness Chain Parade (where representatives from each school march in with paper chains, with each link representing an act of kindness noticed throughout the school year); and a carnival with bounce houses, photo booth, food, and more!

The Kindness Rally is set for 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2018, at the Marion High School gym. Tickets to be used for the carnival attractions can be purchased from any Marion PK-8 school office in advance for five for a $1, and will be available at the door for four for $1; proceeds will fund continuing anti-bullying efforts throughout the school system.

The Chain Reaction Ceremony is set for 5:30 p.m. (Doors open at 5 p.m.) The ceremony will feature:

MHS JROTC presenting the flag.

Performances by school music groups.

Presentation of Student Kindness Awards, which honor one student from each school who embodies the spirit and kindness and who consistently exhibits it to those around them.

Messages from district administrators.

The Kindness Chain Parade.

The carnival will begin immediately after the ceremony.

All schools participate in the creation of the Kindness Chains throughout the year, but each school also has various other ways of recognizing and encouraging students and staff who display kindness and have an impact on others. At some schools, this includes cards or other rewards given for specific acts of kindness. At others, it involves recognition in a bulletin board display. The Student Kindness Awards are a natural outgrowth of this recognition process. One student from each building is selected by their administrators. We believe that simple acts of kindness have the power to change our classrooms, our schools, our community, and the world. Because of that, we truly believe the Student Kindness Awards are some of the highest honors we can bestow.

Marion Community Schools is proud of our students and staff who are starting a chain reaction of kindness and compassion and making positive changes in our schools and community. We hope that students of all ages and their families, along with community members, will come and help us celebrate at the Kindness Rally!

>> The All-City Art Show runs on May 18 from noon to 7 p.m. at the Walton Center at MHS. Stop by and take a look at some of the art on display from our talented students!

Marion Community Schools' All-City Art Show is coming to Marion High School's Walton Performing Arts Center once again!

All MCS buildings will be showing student artwork, and MCS choral and band programs will provide music from all ages. Come see outstanding artwork created by our own Marion Giants. You can also join in some hands-on activities!

The All-City Art Show will be open to the public from noon to 7 p.m. Friday, May 18, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 19, with awards to follow at 5 p.m. in the auditorium. Friday evening, the MCS Kindness Rally will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in Bill Green Arena — stop by both if you have time! Saturday the Art Show will also feature performances by Marion Community Schools music groups:

Noon: Allen/Riverview Elementary Students

12:30 p.m.: McCulloch Jazz Band

1 p.m.: McCulloch Jazz Choir

1:30 p.m.: Justice Pep Band

2 p.m.: Elementary Circle the State with Song performers

2:30 p.m.: McCulloch Honors Choir

3 p.m.: MHS Virtuoso

3:30 p.m.: MHS Jazz Band

In addition, Sing on the Green, the MHS Choral Department's annual end-of-the-year show, is set for 7 p.m. May 19 in the Walton Center auditorium.

Marion Community Schools’ art programs have consistently offered students outstanding opportunities, and in the last few years several students have had their works chosen for regional, state, and even national competitions, including the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony in Color awards and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Our art programs culminate with a wide array of courses at Marion High School, including drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, photography, and more.